by Michael Smith (Veshengro)
A bandana is a very useful piece of equipment. Ideally, if possible, you should always carry one on you, better still two.
The simple bandana has several uses for the camper, hiker, hunter, or anyone who spends time in the outdoors. A bandana cost very little and are worth their weight in gold, not that they are very heavy either.
The bandana is a classic. Yet not an establishment classic. It’s an outside classic. A rebel classic. It works for Hell’s Angels, Outward Bound instructors, rock guitarists and earthy hipsters.
Always carry at least one on you or maybe even two. They weigh next to nothing and when folded up take up little room in your pack or in your hip pocket. In the summer months a wet bandana around my neck while hiking, fishing or hunting will help to keep you cool and it can also help to keep biting insects off your neck.
Simply fold two corners of the bandana over to form a triangle and then fold or roll the entire into a long piece about 2-inches wide. Then dip the bandana into any water source, creek, river, lake, or such, or even, if you can afford the water, use water from your canteen. Wrap it around your neck and tie it in place or use a neckerchief slide to hold it in place. A cool wet bandana used in this manner is a real comfort on a hot day or when in an area where there are lots of mosquitoes and other biting insects. The bandana can also be dampened and tied around the forehead to help keep you cool on a hot humid day.
The bandana can also be tied on top of the head to keep the sun’s rays from baking one's brains. It is then simply worn in the fashion of the pirates head cover, the latter which was nothing else but a bandana or large kerchief.
In addition to that all the bandana also has emergency “first aid” uses too. It can be used as a compress to apply pressure to a cut or wound to help stop bleeding or in the case of a cut artery or amputation it can be tied and used as a tourniquet. The latter though is not longer recommended in First Aid training and may not be carried out by trained and qualified First Aiders. No tourniquets are permitted for use nowadays. But, in the field and when need then a torniquet still is the best and easiest way to stop a bleeding. Either you, if you are the injured person, or your “patient” dies or he may lose a bit of a limb, in the most severe cases. Which is the better, one must judge.
It can also be used as a cold compress on the head in case of fever and if ice is available it can be made into a makeshift icepack in seconds simply by putting ice in the center of the bandana then pulling the four corners up together and tying them.
The bandana can also be used as a bandage or it can be used as an arm sling for an injured limb but in this case two bandanas tied together works better. Bandanas can also be used whole or torn into strips to make ties for splinting a broken limb in an emergency situation. It can also be tied around the head and used as an eye patch. It can also be tied over the nose and mouth in a triangular fashion and serve as a dust mask.
While out camping the bandana also has its uses around camp as a potholder for lifting hot pots and pans while cooking over an open fire. For that purpose fold the bandana into a thick square piece of cloth for this purpose to supply more insulation between hand and the hot handles of the pots and pans. After one has eaten, the same bandana that was used as a potholder could be be used as a washcloth to wash the dishes! A spare bandana could be used to dry the dishes too. Though it would be advisable to keep two bandanas in one's pack for “dishes only” purpose as that is much cleaner and healthier that way.
It can be called upon to be a handkerchief, a napkin, a hat, a headband, a hair tie, a pants tie, a dog leash, an SOS flag – or as an actual bandana.
Carry a bandana everywhere. You’ll never need to harm trees by using paper napkins. Great for bad hair days. You can also use it to disguise yourself or to protect your hands when sliding across a quickly rigged zip line. (All action heroes should carry a bandana.) let’s see, we’ve covered the use of the bandana to “beat the heat” and we’ve covered its use fore emergency “first aid”, so, I guess we have covered about all uses in a short piece here.
I am sure that there are a multitude of other uses for the bandana that we have not covered here, so, therefore, any reader out there wants to add to that please feel free to do so via the comments.
© Michael Smith (Veshengro), May 2008
Metal and Carbon Fiber Hiking Staffs – Another NO Good Idea
The sport of Nordic Walking, in which originally ski poles, once from natural materials, were used, has brought us this, often telescopic, hiking staff, also referred to as a hiking pole now and we seem to come across those things now everywhere, in parks, in woods, on the hills. What a silly and to the environment costly invention. What is wrong with the good old wooden staff or stick?
Yes, I do know that you cannot collapse a wooden staff into a short length to stick it into your backpack or such, but when using a wooden staff you also don't use something that took lots of energy and CO2 to produce. In fact, while the sapling for the wooden staff was growing it used only the energy of the sun and used up carbon, in fact.
OK! I will have to admit it, I am biased. I am, after all, a stick maker, amongst other things, but still.
You cannot beat the beauty, character and especially strength of a natural wooden (or bamboo, if need be) hiking staff. In no way can you put the weight on one of those modern metal and plastic thingies that you can on a standard walking stick or a hiking staff made from a sapling. That is, however, something that you may have to do when traversing difficult terrain and not only difficult terrain. The stick or staff is the third leg to the walker and hiker, it is there to steady you on slopes and on rough ground and to make your passage easier and, should the need arise, it can also be used as a weapon to defend against two- and four-legged attackers.
You cannot, however, do that efficiently with the aluminium or carbon fiber hiking pole. I am sure that, should you have to put lots of strength on it or have to use it as a weapon, say, against a ferocious dog, the staff would break. In fact 99 out of a 100, of that I am nigh on sure, definitely will break if too much pressure is brought to bear upon them. May of those one can, nowadays, find broken in parks and on the hills because people had to put weight on them and one or both – when used as a pair – have failed. This could also be rather dangerous to health and safety of the walker using such staffs.
This is not something that I have ever, as yet, encountered with a natural grown and carefully crafted stick or staff. The grown wood, often purposely grown and trained into this or that kind of outdoors stick, can never be bettered by man-made “stick”, a “stick” made from a metal, light metal at that, which is not all that strong to start with, e.g. aluminium, or made from a plastic, even if it is carbon fiber. While carbon fiber may make great fishing rods with a great breaking strain, because it flexes well, this material, in my – biased, I hasten to add – opinion, does not a great walking stick make. I have tried them and found them all wanting. I guess this simple may be because I am used to wood for a staff but then again...
...Food for thought!
© Michael Smith (Veshengro), March 2008
Yes, I do know that you cannot collapse a wooden staff into a short length to stick it into your backpack or such, but when using a wooden staff you also don't use something that took lots of energy and CO2 to produce. In fact, while the sapling for the wooden staff was growing it used only the energy of the sun and used up carbon, in fact.
OK! I will have to admit it, I am biased. I am, after all, a stick maker, amongst other things, but still.
You cannot beat the beauty, character and especially strength of a natural wooden (or bamboo, if need be) hiking staff. In no way can you put the weight on one of those modern metal and plastic thingies that you can on a standard walking stick or a hiking staff made from a sapling. That is, however, something that you may have to do when traversing difficult terrain and not only difficult terrain. The stick or staff is the third leg to the walker and hiker, it is there to steady you on slopes and on rough ground and to make your passage easier and, should the need arise, it can also be used as a weapon to defend against two- and four-legged attackers.
You cannot, however, do that efficiently with the aluminium or carbon fiber hiking pole. I am sure that, should you have to put lots of strength on it or have to use it as a weapon, say, against a ferocious dog, the staff would break. In fact 99 out of a 100, of that I am nigh on sure, definitely will break if too much pressure is brought to bear upon them. May of those one can, nowadays, find broken in parks and on the hills because people had to put weight on them and one or both – when used as a pair – have failed. This could also be rather dangerous to health and safety of the walker using such staffs.
This is not something that I have ever, as yet, encountered with a natural grown and carefully crafted stick or staff. The grown wood, often purposely grown and trained into this or that kind of outdoors stick, can never be bettered by man-made “stick”, a “stick” made from a metal, light metal at that, which is not all that strong to start with, e.g. aluminium, or made from a plastic, even if it is carbon fiber. While carbon fiber may make great fishing rods with a great breaking strain, because it flexes well, this material, in my – biased, I hasten to add – opinion, does not a great walking stick make. I have tried them and found them all wanting. I guess this simple may be because I am used to wood for a staff but then again...
...Food for thought!
© Michael Smith (Veshengro), March 2008
The Storm Kettle – Product Review
Originally, the Storm Kettle was handmade in Ireland - often by travellers who produced them in copper - for fishermen, itinerant workers and tourists. John Grindlay, who with his wife owns and runs the Eydon Kettle Company, modified the design and implemented modern manufacturing techniques in the early 1960’s.John Grindlay borrowed an original copper kettle and took it to England during the winter. Tooling was manufactured and the first 10 kettles eventually produced. These were very quickly sold for £10 each in 1979, the assembly work being carried out by Mr Grindlay’s children who were then 8 years and 10 years old. Popular demand meant that production had to increase. Since 1979 the numbers sold have substantially increased each year.
Mainly these Kettles, whether sold in the UK, Germany, or elsewhere, are used by sportsmen, holiday makers, expedition organisers and outdoor enthusiasts. They have even accompanied the explorer John Blashford-Snell, while he was searching for signs of early civilisations on a trip to Central America.
Nowadays they can be found in the Solomon Isles helping remote islanders boil water to purify it, in remote parts of Southern Africa, where dried cattle dung is used by the Zulus as fuel, or in the Sahara Desert on expeditions.
I am always amazed though that they never seem to have found a take up by the still travelling Romani in the UK and elsewhere. The Storm Kettle does away with the need for a fire for just the purpose of brewing a cup of tea or coffee or even for the making of some other hot beverage.
Using a Storm Kettle means you can boil water easily, in the wettest and windiest of weather, both rapidly and safely. They are also environmentally friendly as you only need a sheet of newspaper and a handful of twigs as fuel. So the simplicity of the Kettle ensures that boiling water is always available, without the need to use gas, petrol or any other artificial fuel.
Storm Kettles come in two sizes, the Original and the Popular. The Original will boil up to 2.5 pints (approx. 1.5 litres) the Popular up to 2 pints (approx. one litre) – that should ensure more than enough hot water is available for you within minutes - at any time.
The water boils rather quickly and can be kept going by just adding further small sticks into the fire that is going in the burner beneath the kettle via the “chimney”.
One word of warning even though it is mentioned more than once in the literature and also on a sticker on the kettle itself: NEVER EVER use it with the cork in place. While the cork is very handy for carrying the kettle with water in it when heating the water the cork must be taken out of the spout.
The Storm Kettle & the cook set that nowadays is available for it is the ideal kit for forestry workers, countryside conservators, and other such like, such as Parks & Countryside Ranger, especially those working on maintenance tasks away from the main base.
While the Storm Kettle and accessories do not come cheap I can but recommend them.
The Prices for the kettles are: £43.00 for the Popular and £44.50 for the Original. Prices include V.A.T. and carriage.
Reviewed by Michael Smith (Veshengro), February 2008
Pocket Survival Kits
What do you expect from such a kit?
I personally do expect a great deal from one of those in quality, not so much as in quantity, as is often the case opposed to quality. Most of those that I have been able to have a brief look at, however, do not meet my criteria at all.
How often do you see the supposedly professional survival tins with the silly wire saw and the single-edged razor blade for a knife? Far too many times, I am sure. I cringe every time that I see them and try hard not to laugh. If I would be caught out – though hopefully not caught – in enemy territory or just simple lost in the woods or on the moors I would like to have some more substantial items and number one on my list is a decent pocketknife.
Every time that a pocketknife is included in such a kit – and I have seen one or two of such kits – then, invariably, it is a Pakistani-made lock back folder of dubious quality and here especially to the strength of the lock and such like. I have yet to be trusted by the manufacturers of survival kits, including BCB International, with a sample of their products in order to be able to test the quality of the items that are included in the kits.
As far as I am concerned there is only one small folding knife that small enough to fit into most pocket kits that would cut it here – pardon the pun – and that is the Opinel No.6 made by La Coutellerie Opinel in the Savoy region of France, and they are indeed still made in France and not somewhere in China. There simply is not another one equally well suited and especially not as regards to price and weight. I must say that the Opinel #6 would be the only small pocketknife that I would want to trust in an emergency. I know the lock will withstand most abuse, because of its simplicity, and the handle is beech wood that will be kind enough to my hand even with prolonged use.
I certainly would want to have nothing to do with that silly wire saw either. What precisely for? Firstly, do I really want to waste my energy n sawing through logs or even small trees in and emergency situation such as one where I would be needing a pocket survival kit? I do not think so!
I once had someone say to me as regards to the silly wire saw, “but, oh, you can use it as a garrotte!” One can? If I am in enemy territory and am trying to survive and the enemy hopefully does not know that I am there the very last thing I would want to do it to draw attention to my presence by one of theirs going missing or being found strangled. Not a good idea. No, Sir!
I could go on and on and on about the useless things in such kits and I am always amazed that, apparently, the military procurement people actually buy such kits off manufacturers.
A condom as a carrier for drinking water in lieu of a bottle? Methinks not. Yuck! Condoms have various chemicals and such applied to them, such as, for instance, a spermicide. If need be then rather use a balloon.
Way too many kits of this sort seem to try to give the fighting man or -woman or hiker, mountaineer, backpacker, and so on, something of a miniaturized version, it would seem, of what they would generally carry, including some shelter of sorts often, all the while nearly trying to stuff it into an Altoids tin. Let's face it, this is getting silly.
The proper basic survival kit for the warrior (and others) needs but a few items; not a logistics company in miniature.
Here are some suggestions for what, in my opinion and experience, should make us a proper basic kit:
A reliable folder, ideally single blade with a comfortable handle and safe lock. There is, in my opinion, and no, I do not work for them, only one that fits that category and that is the previously mentioned Opinel #6.
A P-38 (as it was once known) folding-bit can opener; the old NATO issue kind and ideally of the very same quality. The military one can be bought and has a NATO issue number on it.
For the next item, the compass, a small button compass may suffice but the better bet is the small Silva base plate one, e.g. the Carabiner 28, as this also has a hole for a lanyard and therefore can be worn around the neck when in the survival situation in the backwoods, for instance, or better still, if you can
accommodate it, the Ranger 27 from Silva, which is a miniature sighting compass.
For fire starting gear the answer would be either matches (waterproof) and a strike or – probably better still – a BIC disposable lighter or one of the refillable Clipper variety. In the latter case a spare flint might also useful.
A small light source is handy to have and here either a small LED light of the Photon kind – costing little. Alternatively, if there is the space and the budget for it, then a LED Lenser (Photon pump) V8 Turbo light. For what they can do they are not expensive.
A means of signalling for help (this is more the case for the hiker and walker, forester, and such like) an emergency whistle would be required and here this can either be a plastic one as used on life jackets or a thunderer one, like used by sports referees. In addition to that maybe, if if can be had, a small signal mirror.
...and finally maybe something like ten safety pins of different sizes and even some cordage, some finger plasters and such and – voila – there is your basic kit.
It fits into a very small space though it probably needs a bigger tin than an Altoids one.
In fact I do not recommend the use of a tin at all. Either use a plastic container, such as, for instance, those as used for the L2A2 cleaning kit of the British Army (that rifle is now no longer in use), or, alternatively, put the contents into one – or separate – Zip lock bag(s) – and stuff into a small belt pouch, like those that are used for personal first aid kits for forestry workers, or such.
Advantages are, one, you can wear the kit on a belt and it will look like a cell phone or PDA pouch but you can also put it into your pocket – in the pouch – and carry it without much discomfort, if any discomfort at all, and secondly, it will not rattle or make any other kind noise that might give you away in exactly the wrong moment.
This is the kind of kit that I used to assemble in fact for personnel doing a variety of jobs and it does not come cheap. On the other hand, however, it is much more reliable than all those other things that are touted as “survival kits”, and some even endorsed with “SAS Survival Tin”, as designed by “Lofty” Wiseman, or such.
© Michael Smith (Veshengro), January 2008
I personally do expect a great deal from one of those in quality, not so much as in quantity, as is often the case opposed to quality. Most of those that I have been able to have a brief look at, however, do not meet my criteria at all.
How often do you see the supposedly professional survival tins with the silly wire saw and the single-edged razor blade for a knife? Far too many times, I am sure. I cringe every time that I see them and try hard not to laugh. If I would be caught out – though hopefully not caught – in enemy territory or just simple lost in the woods or on the moors I would like to have some more substantial items and number one on my list is a decent pocketknife.
Every time that a pocketknife is included in such a kit – and I have seen one or two of such kits – then, invariably, it is a Pakistani-made lock back folder of dubious quality and here especially to the strength of the lock and such like. I have yet to be trusted by the manufacturers of survival kits, including BCB International, with a sample of their products in order to be able to test the quality of the items that are included in the kits.
As far as I am concerned there is only one small folding knife that small enough to fit into most pocket kits that would cut it here – pardon the pun – and that is the Opinel No.6 made by La Coutellerie Opinel in the Savoy region of France, and they are indeed still made in France and not somewhere in China. There simply is not another one equally well suited and especially not as regards to price and weight. I must say that the Opinel #6 would be the only small pocketknife that I would want to trust in an emergency. I know the lock will withstand most abuse, because of its simplicity, and the handle is beech wood that will be kind enough to my hand even with prolonged use.
I certainly would want to have nothing to do with that silly wire saw either. What precisely for? Firstly, do I really want to waste my energy n sawing through logs or even small trees in and emergency situation such as one where I would be needing a pocket survival kit? I do not think so!
I once had someone say to me as regards to the silly wire saw, “but, oh, you can use it as a garrotte!” One can? If I am in enemy territory and am trying to survive and the enemy hopefully does not know that I am there the very last thing I would want to do it to draw attention to my presence by one of theirs going missing or being found strangled. Not a good idea. No, Sir!
I could go on and on and on about the useless things in such kits and I am always amazed that, apparently, the military procurement people actually buy such kits off manufacturers.
A condom as a carrier for drinking water in lieu of a bottle? Methinks not. Yuck! Condoms have various chemicals and such applied to them, such as, for instance, a spermicide. If need be then rather use a balloon.
Way too many kits of this sort seem to try to give the fighting man or -woman or hiker, mountaineer, backpacker, and so on, something of a miniaturized version, it would seem, of what they would generally carry, including some shelter of sorts often, all the while nearly trying to stuff it into an Altoids tin. Let's face it, this is getting silly.
The proper basic survival kit for the warrior (and others) needs but a few items; not a logistics company in miniature.
Here are some suggestions for what, in my opinion and experience, should make us a proper basic kit:
A reliable folder, ideally single blade with a comfortable handle and safe lock. There is, in my opinion, and no, I do not work for them, only one that fits that category and that is the previously mentioned Opinel #6.
A P-38 (as it was once known) folding-bit can opener; the old NATO issue kind and ideally of the very same quality. The military one can be bought and has a NATO issue number on it.
For the next item, the compass, a small button compass may suffice but the better bet is the small Silva base plate one, e.g. the Carabiner 28, as this also has a hole for a lanyard and therefore can be worn around the neck when in the survival situation in the backwoods, for instance, or better still, if you can
accommodate it, the Ranger 27 from Silva, which is a miniature sighting compass.For fire starting gear the answer would be either matches (waterproof) and a strike or – probably better still – a BIC disposable lighter or one of the refillable Clipper variety. In the latter case a spare flint might also useful.
A small light source is handy to have and here either a small LED light of the Photon kind – costing little. Alternatively, if there is the space and the budget for it, then a LED Lenser (Photon pump) V8 Turbo light. For what they can do they are not expensive.
A means of signalling for help (this is more the case for the hiker and walker, forester, and such like) an emergency whistle would be required and here this can either be a plastic one as used on life jackets or a thunderer one, like used by sports referees. In addition to that maybe, if if can be had, a small signal mirror.
...and finally maybe something like ten safety pins of different sizes and even some cordage, some finger plasters and such and – voila – there is your basic kit.
It fits into a very small space though it probably needs a bigger tin than an Altoids one.
In fact I do not recommend the use of a tin at all. Either use a plastic container, such as, for instance, those as used for the L2A2 cleaning kit of the British Army (that rifle is now no longer in use), or, alternatively, put the contents into one – or separate – Zip lock bag(s) – and stuff into a small belt pouch, like those that are used for personal first aid kits for forestry workers, or such.
Advantages are, one, you can wear the kit on a belt and it will look like a cell phone or PDA pouch but you can also put it into your pocket – in the pouch – and carry it without much discomfort, if any discomfort at all, and secondly, it will not rattle or make any other kind noise that might give you away in exactly the wrong moment.
This is the kind of kit that I used to assemble in fact for personnel doing a variety of jobs and it does not come cheap. On the other hand, however, it is much more reliable than all those other things that are touted as “survival kits”, and some even endorsed with “SAS Survival Tin”, as designed by “Lofty” Wiseman, or such.
© Michael Smith (Veshengro), January 2008
LED Lenser V2 Triplex - PRODUCT REVIEW
LED Lenser V2 Triplex - Product Review
With new light chip technology
Cloverleaf reflector system
3 high quality LED’s, in fact a high intensity LED light chip
Solid metal casing
Durable nylon pouch and lanyard included
Burn Time: Up to 10 hours from 1 AA alkaline battery.
Dimensions: 141mm x 37mm
Weight: 160gms
Power Supply: 1 x AA alkaline battery (Two sets of batteries included: 2 x AA)
The patented pure metal housing is ergonomic and extraordinarily smooth to the touch. The patented photon tube reflectors cause the high power diodes to shine with undreamed of brightness. Due to its low power consumption, 1 x AA alkaline battery will provide up to 10 hours of light.
Price: approx. GBP 24.99
Agents in the UK: Ledco Ltd. www.ledco.co.uk
Manufacturers: Zweibrüder Optoelectronics GmbH www.zweibrueder.com
Well, so much for the information from the manufacturer and UK distributor. However, I must say that I am most impressed, as as I have mentioned before on occasions, I do not impress easily, with the design and especially the light output from this little light. It is about the size of the so-called “Mini Maglite”, the one that uses 2xAA batteries as power source, but that is about where the comparison ends. The power source in this one that I have tested and am using is one single AA alkaline cell and considering that, the light output is awesome and then some more.
The light source is a three LED light chip in a cloverleaf pattern (see picture) and the diodes produce an extremely bright and intense white light.
As far as I understand this version of the flashlight is also available in Mossy OakTM camouflage.
The only drawback that could be mentioned is that the beam cannot be focused but, then again, there are others of the same manufacturer where this is indeed possible and I do hope to be able to review – should the manufacturer/agents be prepared to furnish me with the samples for review – some of their tactical flashlights, including the new one that is aimed at the law enforcement market. I have seen it and handled it already but have not been able to put it thru its paces properly, not having a review sample to hand.
All I can say is that this surely is a lot of light in a small package and don't let the price deter you. This is a solid little flashlight made of solid stuff and I am sure it will give many, many years of reliable service.
Reviewed by Michael Smith (Veshengro) ©
With new light chip technology
Cloverleaf reflector system
3 high quality LED’s, in fact a high intensity LED light chip
Solid metal casing
Durable nylon pouch and lanyard included
Burn Time: Up to 10 hours from 1 AA alkaline battery.
Dimensions: 141mm x 37mm
Weight: 160gms
Power Supply: 1 x AA alkaline battery (Two sets of batteries included: 2 x AA)
The patented pure metal housing is ergonomic and extraordinarily smooth to the touch. The patented photon tube reflectors cause the high power diodes to shine with undreamed of brightness. Due to its low power consumption, 1 x AA alkaline battery will provide up to 10 hours of light.
Price: approx. GBP 24.99
Agents in the UK: Ledco Ltd. www.ledco.co.uk
Manufacturers: Zweibrüder Optoelectronics GmbH www.zweibrueder.com
Well, so much for the information from the manufacturer and UK distributor. However, I must say that I am most impressed, as as I have mentioned before on occasions, I do not impress easily, with the design and especially the light output from this little light. It is about the size of the so-called “Mini Maglite”, the one that uses 2xAA batteries as power source, but that is about where the comparison ends. The power source in this one that I have tested and am using is one single AA alkaline cell and considering that, the light output is awesome and then some more.
The light source is a three LED light chip in a cloverleaf pattern (see picture) and the diodes produce an extremely bright and intense white light.
As far as I understand this version of the flashlight is also available in Mossy OakTM camouflage.
The only drawback that could be mentioned is that the beam cannot be focused but, then again, there are others of the same manufacturer where this is indeed possible and I do hope to be able to review – should the manufacturer/agents be prepared to furnish me with the samples for review – some of their tactical flashlights, including the new one that is aimed at the law enforcement market. I have seen it and handled it already but have not been able to put it thru its paces properly, not having a review sample to hand.
All I can say is that this surely is a lot of light in a small package and don't let the price deter you. This is a solid little flashlight made of solid stuff and I am sure it will give many, many years of reliable service.
Reviewed by Michael Smith (Veshengro) ©
LED Lenser V8 Turbo - Product Review
LED Lenser (Photon pump) V8 Turbo
Product Details:
Crystal reflector tube system. LED Lensers reflector tubes are lined with Italian crystal and precisely shaped to "pump up" the light produced by the LED for a broader, more powerful beam.
High intensity light chip.
24-carat gold contacts - gold is a superior electrical conductor, which minimizes energy lost at the contact points and maximizes energy that goes into light production.
Solid metal casings - most competitors have plastic.
High Wattage LEDs - LED Lenser uses only the highest wattage and the finest quality LEDs. We laboratory test our lights to determine precise milliwatt output.
Batteries included 4 x AG13.
Length: 7cm.
Weight: 38 grams
Lifetime guarantee.
Price: approx. GBP 9.99
Agents in the UK: Ledco Ltd. www.ledco.co.uk
Manufacturers: Zweibrüder Optoelectronics GmbH www.zweibrueder.com
The "Photon pump" V8 Turbo is a small but extremely powerful miniature flashlight of the LED Lenser Optoelectronics range. Seeing that my own example was not a sample but was given to me as a FREE gift at a tool and DIY exhibition for attending I was, obviously, wondering as to what quality this would indeed be, as, let's admit it, most advertising gifts are not necessarily quality and I must say that I am extremely surprised. Obviously the little light is the standard product with the exception that, in my case, it bears the logo of the exhibitions it was to commemorate.
The light of the flashlight is to powerful that the warning not to look directly into the light is something that should definitely be heeded. I did not heed it and I had problems with my vision for a while after. Self-inflicted injury for sure and as the warnings were clearly visible on the package I had no one to blame for it by my own stupidity. According to the "fact sheet" the light is visible for 2,000 meters and though not having tested it I do not doubt it in the least as indoors and out it outshines a seven-LED flashlight of mine.
The body - small as it is - is of solid metal, is galvanized, so it appears, and I must say that I was rather surprised as to the weight of this little device.
Featured in the Frankfurt Museum for modern Art and a winner of two prestigious design plus awards, the V8 turbo is a design classic. Shook proof and water resistant. The innovative LED light chip lasts for up to 100,000 hours making this the ultimate key ring accessory.
If all of the flashlights produced by Zweibrüder Optoelectronics in Germany, who are behind LED Lenser, are of the same quality as this little light that was given to me by a representative of the British agents at the show mentioned then one cannot go wrong investing in one or more of their flashlights.
This small little light designed, theoretically, to be carried as a key ring attachment, really packs an unbelievable punch as regards to brightness and distance of beam and does make an ideal small light to add to anyone's survival kits and such. The only disadvantage, I guess, is the fact that the batteries are not one of the common garden variety but rather button batteries of the type mentioned in the specifications. However, the little unit given to me not only came fitted with a set of batteries but had a spare set included in the blister pack as well. That should at least provide somewhere in the region of 500 hours of light.
Reviewed by Michael Smith (Veshengro) ©
Product Details:
Crystal reflector tube system. LED Lensers reflector tubes are lined with Italian crystal and precisely shaped to "pump up" the light produced by the LED for a broader, more powerful beam.
High intensity light chip.
24-carat gold contacts - gold is a superior electrical conductor, which minimizes energy lost at the contact points and maximizes energy that goes into light production.
Solid metal casings - most competitors have plastic.
High Wattage LEDs - LED Lenser uses only the highest wattage and the finest quality LEDs. We laboratory test our lights to determine precise milliwatt output.
Batteries included 4 x AG13.
Length: 7cm.
Weight: 38 grams
Lifetime guarantee.
Price: approx. GBP 9.99
Agents in the UK: Ledco Ltd. www.ledco.co.uk
Manufacturers: Zweibrüder Optoelectronics GmbH www.zweibrueder.com
The "Photon pump" V8 Turbo is a small but extremely powerful miniature flashlight of the LED Lenser Optoelectronics range. Seeing that my own example was not a sample but was given to me as a FREE gift at a tool and DIY exhibition for attending I was, obviously, wondering as to what quality this would indeed be, as, let's admit it, most advertising gifts are not necessarily quality and I must say that I am extremely surprised. Obviously the little light is the standard product with the exception that, in my case, it bears the logo of the exhibitions it was to commemorate.
The light of the flashlight is to powerful that the warning not to look directly into the light is something that should definitely be heeded. I did not heed it and I had problems with my vision for a while after. Self-inflicted injury for sure and as the warnings were clearly visible on the package I had no one to blame for it by my own stupidity. According to the "fact sheet" the light is visible for 2,000 meters and though not having tested it I do not doubt it in the least as indoors and out it outshines a seven-LED flashlight of mine.
The body - small as it is - is of solid metal, is galvanized, so it appears, and I must say that I was rather surprised as to the weight of this little device.
Featured in the Frankfurt Museum for modern Art and a winner of two prestigious design plus awards, the V8 turbo is a design classic. Shook proof and water resistant. The innovative LED light chip lasts for up to 100,000 hours making this the ultimate key ring accessory.
If all of the flashlights produced by Zweibrüder Optoelectronics in Germany, who are behind LED Lenser, are of the same quality as this little light that was given to me by a representative of the British agents at the show mentioned then one cannot go wrong investing in one or more of their flashlights.
This small little light designed, theoretically, to be carried as a key ring attachment, really packs an unbelievable punch as regards to brightness and distance of beam and does make an ideal small light to add to anyone's survival kits and such. The only disadvantage, I guess, is the fact that the batteries are not one of the common garden variety but rather button batteries of the type mentioned in the specifications. However, the little unit given to me not only came fitted with a set of batteries but had a spare set included in the blister pack as well. That should at least provide somewhere in the region of 500 hours of light.
Reviewed by Michael Smith (Veshengro) ©
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